Molecular Transport of the Zika Virus by the Human Cytoplasmic Dynein-1

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a major public health threat, making the study of its biology a matter of great importance. By analyzing the viral-host protein interactions and proposing them as new drug targets, we would diminish the emergence of new resistant strains. In this work, we have shown that human cytoplasmic dynein-1 (Dyn) interacts with the ZIKV. We additionally demonstrate that the envelope protein of the ZIKV and the dimerization domain of the heavy chain of Dyn binds directly without dynactin or cargo adaptor. In addition, we have analyzed this interaction in Vero cells, where we are proposing that the interaction ZIKV-Dyn is finely tuned within the replication cycle. Altogether, our data suggest a new step in the previously described replication cycle of the ZIKV, introducing a suitable molecular target to modulate infection by ZIKV.